14. July 2010 by admin.

From: http://www.schmartboard.com/index.asp?page=mcu_2010 

By designing an MCU circuit based on the 8 Bit Microchip PIC MCU, Parallax Propeller or Texas Instruments MSP430, C2000, and Stellaris Cortex M3 utilizing a SchmartBoard|ez development board.

Posted in SchmartBoard, Contest | 1 Comment »

27. June 2010 by admin.

from: http://www.elektor.com/events/programming-embedded-pic-controllers-distance.1222399.lynkx 

In this course you will learn how to program an embedded microcontroller. We will start with the absolute basics and we will go into a lot of detail. You cannot learn about software without understanding the hardware so we will also take a close look at the components and schematics. Gradually the course will become more complex as we move into the more advanced subjects. At the end of the course you will be able to design your own embedded applications and write the appropriate software for it. From a flashing LED to a USB controlled LCD screen, from analog signals to interrupt driven high frequency sound, from frequency sampling to a digital thermometer, you will master it all.

Check the Contents section for the complete table of contents, example pages etc.

Your course package:

• Courseware Ring Binder (747 pages)

• CD-ROM including software and example files

• Application Board

• Support at Elektor Forum

• Elektor Certificate

Normal rrp: £395.00 | US $645.00 | € 445.00
(excl. shipping costs)

Please note: To be able to follow this course, E-blocks hardware is required which you may already have (in part). All relevant products are available individually but also as a set at a discounted price (directely via the special Order Form or afterwards in the Elektor Shop). Check the Hardware sectionfor more details.

Posted in Elektor Magazine, Training & Education, PIC | 2 Comments »

3. June 2010 by admin.

from: http://www.elektor.com/products/books/microcontrollers/50-pic-microcontroller-projects-(subscribers.1350478.lynkx

 Limited period offer for Elektor magazine subscribers: 14% Discount and FREE shipping & handling!

TIP: Order this book along with other Elektor products and get FREE shipping & handling on the whole order!

This book contains 50 fun and exciting projects for PIC microcontrollers such as a laser alarm, USB teasing mouse, eggtimer, youth repellent, soundswitch, capacitive liquid level gauge, “finger in the water” sensor, guarding a room using a camera, mains light dimmer (110-240 volts), talking microcontroller and much more. Several different techniques are discussed such as relay, alternating current control including mains, I2C, SPI, RS232, USB, pulse width modulation, rotary encoder, interrupts, infrared, analog-digital conversion (and the other way around), 7-segment display and even CAN bus.

You can use this book to build the projects for your own use. The clear explanations, schematics and even pictures of each project make this a fun activity. For each project the theory is discussed and why the project has been executed in that particular way. That means you can also use this book as a studybook, or as basis for larger and more complicated projects. All projects use a breadboard so modification and expansion is easy.

Three PIC microcontrollers are used in this book, the 16f877A, 18f4455 and 18f4685. It is also discussed how you can migrate your project from one microcontroller to another - 15 types are supported - including two example projects.

All software that is used in this book can be downloaded for free. That also applies to the open source programming language JAL. This powerful and yet easy to learn language is used by hobbyists as well as professionals.

This book can also be used as a reference guide. It explains all JAL commands, as well as the expansion libraries. Using the index you can easily find example projects that illustrate the use of these commands. Even when you have built all projects in this book you will still want to keep it within arm’s reach.

This book is not a sequel but rather an expansion of the “PIC Microcontrollers - 50 projects for beginners and experts” book by the same author. If you own both books you have a whopping 100 projects for 6 different microcontrollers!

Posted in Elektor Magazine, Books | 1 Comment »

26. May 2010 by admin.

This Application Note covers the recharging of Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH), Nickel Cadmium (NiCd), and Lithium Ion (Li-Ion) batteries. It will also cover the recommended charge profiles for the NiMH/NiCd and Li-Ion battery chemistries.

Posted in Battery Power, Application Notes, analog, PIC, Microchip | 1 Comment »

20. May 2010 by admin.

From http://www.mikroe.com/eng/products/view/19/pic-mcu-cards/

We would like to provide our customers with extra MCU parts for developing purposes. At present, we are offering components for several microcontroller’s compatible with our BIGPIC5 development systems.

BIGPIC5 MCU Card’s (80 pin) have a very good contact with the board thru a two-line connector. The bottom of the card is ground plane for noise prevention.

Posted in MikroElektronika, 8-bit | 1 Comment »

17. May 2010 by admin.

Get it at http://digikey.com/PTM/PTMMaster.page?WT.z_homepage_link=hp_PTM&site=us&lang=en#Microchip-Technology 

Posted in Tips & Tricks, Digi Key, Training & Education | 1 Comment »

16. May 2010 by admin.

From: http://www.microchip-comps.com/ea-xlp

Electronica Azi nanoWatt XLP 16-bit Development Board Competition

For your chance to win a Microchip nanoWatt XLP 16-bit Development Board including a preprogrammed PIC24F16KA102 microcontroller, please enter your details in the entry form .

Posted in Low Power, 16-bit, Sweepstakes, Development Tool | 1 Comment »

11. May 2010 by admin.

From http://www.futureelectronics.com/en/promotions/EventsAndSeminars/Pages/Microchip_XLP_Lunch_and_Learn.aspx 

Qualify for a FREE Explorer 16 Demo Board 

Future Electronics is committed to support Green Initiatives by introducing the world’s lowest power microcontroller. This on site, free Lunch & Learn conducted by a Future Electronics Advanced Engineer will feature Microchip Technology’s cutting edge nanoWatt XLP (Extreme Low Power) Flash microcontroller family. This new family of devices offers the industry’s lowest currents for Sleep, where extreme low power applications spend 99% of their time. The XLP family offers all of the advantages of the well recognized PIC18F High Performance MCU and caters tobroadbase markets most notably Metering, Medical, Consumer, Safety & Security Human Interface and USB. Forget Low Power….go eXtreme.

Key Take-Aways from this FREE Lunch & Learn

• Identify key parameters and how they affect power sensitive applications

• Design using best practices for low-power applications

• Evaluate and use low-power features available on PIC® MCUs 

• Select the correct PIC MCU from the nanoWatt focused families

Register Today (http://www1.futureelectronics.com/event_seminars/microchip/xlp-lunch-and-learn/order.asp)

* offered to qualified customers only

Posted in Future Electronics, Low Power, Training & Education, Free Stuff | 1 Comment »

10. May 2010 by admin.

from: http://www.freertos.org/Documentation/FreeRTOS-documentation-and-book.html#FreeRTOS-Book-PIC32

FreeRTOS eBook PIC32 Edition:
“Using the FreeRTOS Real Time Kernel - a Practical Guide”

Overview

This is a concise, step by step, ‘hands on’ guide that describes both general multitasking concepts and FreeRTOS specifics. It presents and explains numerous examples that are written using the FreeRTOS API. Full source code for all the examples is provided in an accompanying .zip file.

The PIC32 Edition

The PIC32 edition includes sixteen examples written specifically for the PIC32 using the free MPLAB C Compiler for PIC32 MCUs and the free MPLAB IDE. The projects target the low cost PIC32 USB Starter Kit II (Microchip part number DM320003-2) development board with a PIC32MX795F512L-80I/PT microcontroller (80 MHz, 512K Flash, 128K RAM, USB Host/Device/OTG, Dual CAN, and more).

This book is a step by step ‘hands on’ guide. It does not contain a complete API reference. An API reference manual is available in a separate document.

Purchased documents are delivered by email to the email address used with your PayPal or Google account. Delivery will normally be made within the hour (when orders are placed within UK office hours) but can take longer when we are out of the office on business. Delivery will always be made within 24 hours, so please check your junk mail folder if you think you have not received your purchase within this time.

Purchase together with the FreeRTOS Reference Manual to save $10.

Posted in FreeRTOS, PIC, Books, 32-bit | 1 Comment »

7. May 2010 by admin.

From http://techtrain.microchip.com/usmasters/Home.aspx?redirects=usmasters 

The MASTERs Conference can help meet these needs by providing up to five days of engineering based technical training over a broad range of embedded control topics. This year we will offer more than 80 different classes that cover programming, USB, Wi-Fi, touch sensing, Ethernet, RTOS, power supplies, lighting & motor control, just to name a few.  Many of the classes are “hands-on” where you will actually write some of your own code as you learn how to use our products and demonstration boards. Most of the classes are taught by our own engineers offering you the unique advantage to learn from the same people who have developed the products, application notes and demo boards that you are using in class.  Attending not only means you will gain valuable knowledge, but you will also have the opportunity to network with other leading engineers from around the world.  

This year we are offering various discounts for all attendees: (Some restrictions apply)

• Early Bird- SAVE $150 on MASTERs & $55 on Pre-Conference - Available until May 14
• Design Partners- (non-commissioned only) - A minimum of 20% off if you are in the Microchip Design Partner Program
• Arizona Resident- 25% off if you don’t need a hotel room
• Academia Program for Professors- SAVE 30% of main pricing of MASTERs only if you are a Professor in the Microchip Academia Program
• Group Discounts- 25% off on 11 or more attendees from same company or 20% off on 6-10 attendees from same company
• Some discounts not applicable for Pre-Conference dates (August 23 & 24, 2010)

Posted in Training & Education, 8-bit, 16-bit, 32-bit, Microchip | 1 Comment »